Transportable telescoping fishing rod rack

ABSTRACT

A fishing rod rack that is transportable, may be disassembled, features adjustable elements, and associated rack securing devices is disclosed. The rack includes two support legs parallel to each other. A plurality of adjustable clamps may be connected to each support leg by frictional engagement. Support members are preferably disposed between both legs by connection to the clamps and feature shaft or handle receiving members. An extendable member, which may feature a hook, slides out of the top of each of the legs and a horizontal member, that may feature backpack straps, connects the extendable members and has shaft receiving members. The bottom of the legs may include a wedge shape, or may slide into a holder that is adapted to wedge into the ground or sit on a level surface and hold the rack upright. The legs may further be secured by mounts installed in other locations as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fishing pole holders or racks, and in particular, to a transportable fishing pole holder for safely and securely transporting a plurality of fishing poles in an organized manner. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a novel fishing rod rack that is adjustable, may be disassembled, and includes means for mounting the rack in various places, such as on a wall, in a boat or vehicle, or in the ground.

A great number of people enjoy fishing and go regularly. There are numerous situations where more than one fishing pole is desired or necessary. Whatever the circumstances, transportation of multiple fishing poles can be a hassle. Transportation of multiple rods presents ample opportunities for rods to become tangled together or break. Many different types of devices have been developed and used to attempt to prevent these problems.

Examples of devices designed to store and transport fishing rods include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,883 discloses a mobile fishing rod rack which includes top and bottom boards and side boards with holes for receiving fishing poles. The rack is mounted on caster wheels such that it is mobile and can be rolled around for easy access and storage and convenience in loading fishing poles.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0110948 is directed a portable, adjustable, sporting articles holder for use within a vehicle. A base unit positions the device on the floor of a vehicle. A plurality of telescoping legs are attached to the base and extend upwardly therefrom for contacting the ceiling of the vehicle. A plurality of multi-function clamps are frictionally held to the telescoping legs, and the clamps are slidably adjustable with respect to the telescoping legs for vertical adjustment of the clamps. A plurality of tubular connecting bars are held in place by the clamps, and the tubular connecting bars are also slidably adjustable. Attached to the ends of the tubular connecting bars are a plurality of planar receiving members capable of receiving and supporting a number of sporting articles, such as fishing rods and firearms, wherein the sporting articles are received by a plurality of adjacent, spaced apart cut-outs contained within the receiving members.

However, these earlier efforts suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: The devices are not easily transportable, may not be disassembled, are limited in the variety of places they may be secured, and lack in adjustable elements to accommodate different size rods.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a fishing rod rack that is easily transportable, keeps fishing rods separated during transport, may be disassembled, features adjustable and telescoping elements, and may be secured in a variety of locations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the present invention relates to a fishing rod rack that is transportable, may be disassembled, features adjustable elements, and may be easily secured in a variety of locations. These locations may include a house, boat, truck, river bank, beach, or other desired venue. The fishing rod rack may also be disassembled into a compact configuration for easier storage and carrying when not in use.

According to one aspect, the fishing rod rack includes two elongate support legs parallel to each other. A plurality of adjustable clamps may be connected to each support leg, wherein the adjustable clamps may be secured in a desired position by frictional engagement, spring loaded buttons and holes, or any other desired means. The rod rack may further include a horizontal lower support member positioned between the adjustable clamps on lower portions of each support leg. The lower support member may include a rod handle receiving member having a series of vertically oriented sleeves to accept the handles of rods, an L-shape support to support the rods by the handles, or any other structure sufficient to support the rods by the handles. The rod rack may further include a horizontal middle support member positioned above the lower support member, wherein the middle support member includes a plurality of shaft receiving members attached thereto in spaced relation. The shaft receiving members are preferably retaining structures for securely retaining the shaft portion of a fishing rod. Both horizontal support members may be adjustable vertically with respect to the support legs due to the adjustability of the clamps. The horizontal support members may also have a tackle container attached for the storage or lures and bait. The containers may be removably attached by hook and loop fasteners, magnets, or any suitable means.

According to another aspect, the legs may include a base member and an extendable member in telescoping relation, such that the extendable members are capable of vertical translational movement in and out of the base members, thus creating an adjustable telescoping action between the extendable members and the base members. In this embodiment, the extendable members are connected to one another by at least one horizontal support member, the upper support member, connected in a perpendicular fashion to each extendable member, above the middle support member. The extendable members may further feature tick marks spaced vertically to allow for quick measuring of the length of the extendable member from the base member and to accommodate personal settings.

According to yet another aspect, the rod rack may be supported by a ground mount. The ground mount may be two mounts, one for each leg, that support each leg by being inserted into the ground. The mounts may have a shape that makes it easier to be inserted into the ground, for example a point or wedge. The mounts may also be connected to one another by a horizontal rod, shaft, or member. The mounts may further swivel inward in relation to the connecting horizontal rod, shaft, or member, to accommodate easier transport and storage of the ground mount. The legs of the rod rack may also terminate in a shape which can be inserted into the ground to support the rack without the need for a ground mount.

According to a further aspect, the rod rack may be supported by a mount assembly installed upon any surface where it may be beneficial. The mount assembly may be beneficial in areas where it is not feasible to use a ground mount to support and secure the fishing rod rack but it is necessary to secure the rack. The mount assembly may be installed into floors and walls of houses or truck beds, into the gunwale of a boat, or any other place where secure storage may be desired.

According to an additional aspect, the rod rack may be supported by a support assembly that is attached to the extendable members of the rod rack. The support assembly may consist of hooks attached to each extendable member of the rack adapted to hook over structures and support the rack. These hooks may be used to support the rod rack from the tailgate of a truck, from a door, or from any other suitable structure. Additionally, the rod rack may have backpack straps connected to the upper support member to allow for the rack to be transported as a backpack.

According to another aspect, the rod rack may be supported by a mount stand. The mount stand may be comprised of two mounts, one for receiving each leg of the rack. The bottom portion of the mounts may be connected together by a generally flat piece of material, a connector. This connector may further have two support pieces attached to it that may be rotated from a parallel to a perpendicular position in relation to the connector. These support pieces help to keep the rack and mount stand upright when on a level surface.

According to another aspect, multiple rod racks may be connected together by the use of standoff members. The standoff members may be rods, braces, or the like designed to removably attach one rod rack to another in a generally parallel fashion. The standoff members may also be extendable and retractable to vary the distance of the racks from one another.

The rod rack may be made of aluminum, titanium, plastic, or any other suitable material. The rack may further be made of or utilize materials that resist or ground lightning strikes as desired. Additionally, the rod rack may utilize materials to make the rod rack buoyant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack with fishing rods secured and featuring a pair of parallel support legs consisting of base and extendable members, an upper, middle, and lower support member, shaft receiving members disposed upon the upper and middle support member, and receptacles as the handle receiving members disposed upon the lower support member;

FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack with fishing rods secured and featuring an L-shaped support as the handle receiving member disposed upon the lower support member;

FIG. 3 is a front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack without fishing rods secured showing the telescoping action between the extendable members and the base members and where the legs terminate in a shape that facilitates insertion in the ground;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack showing the insertion of the legs into the ground mount comprising a pair of mounts shaped so they may easily be inserted into the ground and support each leg and further showing the telescoping action between the extendable members and the base members;

FIG. 5 is a side view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack with a support assembly comprising a pair of hooks with each connected to an extendable member at the end opposite the connection with the base member and further showing the telescoping action between the extendable members and the base members;

FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack with backpack straps attached to the upper support member;

FIG. 7 is a side view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack with backpack straps attached and shown in use;

FIG. 8 is a front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack showing the extendable members retracted inside their respective base member;

FIG. 9 is a partially exploded front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack showing the insertion of the legs into the ground mount comprising a pair of mounts connected together by a rod and shaped so they may easily be inserted into the ground;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded front view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack showing the insertion of the legs in a mount assembly that is connected to a flat surface;

FIG. 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the fishing rod rack showing the insertion of the legs into a mount stand comprising a pair of mounts connected together at their bases by a connector which features two support pieces that can rotate to a perpendicular position to support the rack in an upright position.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one embodiment of two fishing rod racks connected together by standoff members and with their legs secured by mount stands to support the racks in an upright position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a fishing rod rack 10 that is easily transportable, keeps fishing rods 40 separated during transport, may be disassembled, features adjustable and telescoping elements, and may be secured in a variety of locations. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the rack 10 includes a pair of parallel elongated vertical support legs 12. A pair of horizontal support members 14, 18 extend horizontally between the support legs 12, and may be attached to the legs 12 by adjustable clamps 16 attached to the legs 12. The clamps 16 may be incrementally or infinitely adjustable. Also, the clamps 16 may allow for vertical adjustment of the horizontal support members 14, 18 to different points on the legs 12 and may be removably attached to the legs 12. The lower support member 14 may include a rod handle receiving member or members 22. The handle receiving member 22 may be removably attached to the legs 12 or the adjustable clamps 16. The handle receiving member 22 may be an L-shaped support, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the lip of the L-shaped support provides a platform for resting the bottom of a fishing rod handle 42. Alternatively, the handle receiving members 22 may include a series of sleeves or receptacles, as shown in FIG. 1, attached to the lower horizontal support 14, wherein each sleeve or receptacle may receive the handle end 42 of a fishing rod 40. The handle receiving members 22 may also be adjustable horizontally along the lower horizontal support 14, for example along a track. Additionally, shaft receiving members 20 may be attached to the middle support member 18. The shaft receiving members 20 may be hinged circular structures, or may be of any suitable construction to sufficiently secure the shaft of the fishing rod 40. Further, the shaft receiving members 20 may be adjustable horizontally, for example along a tract on the middle support member 18.

In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the legs 12 may include a base member 28 and an extendable member 24 in telescoping relation, such that the extendable members 24 are capable of vertical translational movement in and out of the base members 28, thus creating an adjustable telescoping action between the extendable members 24 and the base members 28. The extendable members 24 may further feature tick marks spaced vertically to allow for quick measuring of the length of the extendable member 24 from the base member 28 and to accommodate personal settings. The extendable members 24 may be connected to each other by a horizontal upper support member 26 positioned in generally perpendicular relation to the extendable members 24. The upper support member 26 may be removably attached to the extendable members 24. The upper support member 26 may include a plurality of shaft receiving members 20. The shaft receiving members 20 on the horizontal support members 18, 26 may vertically correspond with one another to better retain the shafts of fishing rods 40. Additionally, the shaft receiving members 20 may be adjustable horizontally, for example along a track on the upper support member 26. Further, it is contemplated that a bait holding structure, such as a tackle box, may be attached to any of the support members 14, 18, 26. The means for attachment of the bait holding structure may be magnetic, hook and loop fasteners, or any other suitable means.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the rack 10 may be supported by insertion of the legs 12 in a ground mount 34. The ground mount 34 may be a pair of mounts 32, a mount for each leg, shaped so the mounts 32 can easily be inserted into the ground and, thereby, support the inserted legs 12. The mounts 32, may also be connected to one another, as in FIG. 9 in order to facilitate accurate placement of the mounts 32 in the ground relative to the distance of the legs 12. The mounts 32, may further swivel into parallel relation to the connection between them to facilitate easier transport and storage. It is also anticipated that, instead of the mounts 32, the base members 28 of the legs 12 may be shaped to facilitate insertion into the ground, as in FIG. 3.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the rack 10 may also be supported by insertion of the legs 12 within a mount assembly 30 connected to various structures. The mount assembly 30 may be beneficial in areas where insertion of the mounts 32 in the ground is not feasible but mounted support is still desired. The mount assembly 30 may be installed into floors and walls of houses or truck beds, into the gun wale of a boat, or any other desired storage locations. The mount assembly 30 may be installed at a distance from one another that corresponded to the distance of the legs 12 of the rack 10, to facilitate inserting the legs into the mount assembly 30. The mount assembly 30 may be sleeves 33, clips, or any other suitable structure to accept and secure the legs 12 of the rack 10.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the rack 10 may have a support assembly 36 connected to the extendable members 24 to support the rack 10. The support assembly 36 may be a pair of hooks with each hook attached to an extendable member thereby allowing the rack to be securely supported by a tailgate of a truck, door, or any suitable structure. The support assembly 36 may further be rubberized. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the rack 10 may have backpack straps 38 connected to the upper support member 26 to allow the rack 10 to be transported as a backpack, as in FIG. 7. The backpack straps 38 may be made of any suitable material.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the rack 10 may also be supported by insertion of the legs 12 within a mount stand 44. The mount stand 44 may consist of two mounts 32 that are connected at their base by a flat piece of material, a connector 46. The connector 46 may have two support pieces 48 that may be rotated from a parallel to perpendicular position, relative to the connector 46. These support pieces 48 help keep the mount stand 44 and rack 10 upright when on a level surface.

In an embodiment show in FIG. 12, more than one rack 10 may be connected together through the use of standoff members 50. The standoff members 50 may be rods, braces of the like. The standoff members 50 may connect the legs 12 of one rack 10 to the legs 12 of another rack 10. In a preferred embodiment, two standoff members 50 connect each leg 12 to a corresponding leg of another rack 10 such that the racks 10 are generally parallel to one another. The standoff members 50 may further be removably attachable to the legs at each distal end of the standoff members 50. Additionally, the standoff members 50 may be extendable and retractable to allow for varying of the distance of one rack 10 from another.

It is contemplated that the rack 10, the ground mount 34, the mount assembly 30, the support assembly 36, the mount stand 44, and the standoff members 50 may be composed of plastic, aluminum, titanium, or other desired material. The rack 10, ground mount 34, mount assembly 30, support assembly 36, mount stand 44, and standoff members 50 may also be made of or utilize materials to resist lightning strikes or ground the rack 10, as desired. The rack 10 may also be made of or utilize materials to provide buoyancy to the rack 10. Additionally, the rack 10 may be constructed in a manner to allow for the disassembly of its parts, supplementary to the construction described above, to make it easier to transport and store the rack 10 when not in use.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fishing rod rack comprising: two vertically elongated legs parallel to each other, each said elongated legs including a base member and an extendable member in telescoping relation; a lower support member disposed horizontally between said legs which includes a rod handle receiving member; and an upper support member disposed horizontally between said extendable members which includes shaft receiving members.
 2. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower support member is connected, at each terminal end, to an adjustable clamp that is connected to each of said base members.
 3. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further comprising a middle support, which includes shaft receiving members, connected to said base members and disposed between the upper support member and lower support member and disposed generally horizontally between said legs.
 4. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 3, wherein said middle support member is attached, at each terminal end, to an adjustable clamp that is attached to one of said base members.
 5. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of said base members define a shape to facilitate insertion of said legs into the ground.
 6. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including a mount having a bottom portion that defines a shape to facilitate insertion into the ground, and wherein said mount is adapted to receive at least one leg.
 7. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including a ground mount consisting of two mounts connected at a distance to facilitate insertion of the legs and, where lower ends of said mounts define a shape to facilitate insertion into the ground.
 8. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper support member is removably attached to said extendable member and said lower support member is removably attached to said base members.
 9. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 3, wherein said upper support member is removably attached to said extendable member, said middle support member is removably attached to said base members, and said lower support member is removably attached to said base members.
 10. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including a mount assembly comprised of at least one sleeve that at least one of said legs may be inserted into and is adapted to be installed on a flat surface.
 11. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including a support assembly comprised of two hooks, one hook attached to each extendable member, wherein each hook is adapted to attach to structures and support said rack.
 12. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including backpack straps anchored to said upper support member for carrying said fishing rod rack as a backpack.
 13. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, wherein said rack is made from a buoyant material.
 14. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 2, wherein the adjustable clamps are removably connected to said base members.
 15. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 4, wherein said adjustable clamps are removably connected to said base members.
 16. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including a mount stand consisting of two mounts that are connected at the base of each by a connector, a generally flat strip of material, at a distance to facilitate the insertion of said legs, and where said connector has two support pieces attached that rotate from a parallel to a perpendicular position with said flat strip of material and are adapted to keep said rack upright when on a level surface.
 17. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 1, further including elongate standoff members wherein each elongate standoff member is removably attachable at one distal end to said leg of said rod rack and at the opposite distal end to a leg of a separate rod rack.
 18. The fishing rod rack set forth in claim 17, wherein the length of said standoff members may be extended or retracted to vary the distance of two rod racks, attached to said standoff members, from one another. 